VALUES CLARIFICATION EXERCISE

Developed by Rahima Baldwin, this was originally presented by Informed Homebirth as a values clarification exercise for the Informed Birth and Parenting childbirth education series. You can review the various elements and rank them according to their importance to you in order to help you make decisions about your birth plans.

What Is Most Important to You About Your Birth Experience:

To have the ultimate safety equipment

To be in quiet, peaceful surroundings

To have minimum interference

To be able to welcome the baby gently (dim lights, warm room, etc.)

To have a medical doctor present

To have the baby with me after the birth (no separation)

To labor and give birth in the same place

To feel at one with the energy, my partner, the attendants throughout the birth

To have my partner (friend) present during the birth and labor

To be able to do what I choose

To have other supportive people present

To maintain a spiritual perspective through the birth

To have other children present

Wild card (write your own)

To avoid pain

What is Most Important to You About Your Attendant:

They have much knowledge and experience with normal birth

They will participate totally, tuned in to our feelings

They can prescribe drugs, do suturing, and/or have hospital privileges

They can be depended on to do the right thing, make decisions, take over in an emergency

They charge a low fee

They encourage our responsibility and will consult us before doing anything

They have much knowledge of complications and how to handle them

They will be with me during labor, the birth, and if there are complications

They have a high regard for me and my partner’s intuition and knowledge

They and we feel like friends, rather than being a “professional relationship”

They will be available throughout the experience, but not interfere with us except when we ask them